Welcome to Michael L. Wirgler, Guest Conductor

Like the 126-year-old Golden Gate Park Band he conducts, Wirgler is a San Francisco original. One of those rare San Francisco natives, Wirgler describes the City as a magnet that keeps drawing him back. He lived his first 8 years in the Marina District before moving to South San Francisco and the East Bay with his family. He earned both his B.A. and Master’s degrees at San Francisco State University , taking his Master’s Degree in clarinet performance. During his service in the Army, he was stationed at San Francisco ’s Presidio, performing clarinet with the 6th Army Band.

Prior to being appointed music director of GGPB in 1999, Wirgler had a long history with that band, performing as its principal clarinetist for 25 years. A resident of Oakland today, Wirgler recently retired from teaching music for the Oakland Unified School District after 33 years with the district. He continues as an active performer, teacher and composer in the Bay Area. He performs with the Lamplighter Orchestra of San Francisco and in several East Bay swing bands, including Three O’Clock Jump Big Band. He conducts the Albany Community Band as well.

While this concert marks Wirgler’s first time on the podium conducting the Freedom Band, he has worked with the group before, arranging segments of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Balletnot previously transcribed for band for the Freedom Band’s Dance-Along Nutcracker®. Bands Across the Sea also features some of Wirgler’s arrangements, including a fanfare he composed in tribute to the Park Band’s 125th anniversary and a rare arrangement for wind ensemble of the Finale from Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8.